Driver and assistant killed in serious bus collision

Two people died and another 14 were hospitalised after a coach collided with a stopped truck early Saturday morning in Krong Buk District in Dak Lak Province.

Driver Nguyen Van Nguyen, 35, of Pleiku City, and his assistant, who was unidentified, died at the scene after the bus, which was carrying 35 passengers, collided with a truck (license plate BKS 47C – 018.17), which had stopped along National Road 14 in Cu Ne Commune.

The collision caused the truck to hit another truck parked in front of it. The trucks were seriously damaged, and the front section of the coach was demolished.

The collision occurred at around 3:30 am as the bus was travelling from Buon Ma Thuot to Gia Lai.

Local officials had to use special tools to remove the crumpled metal of the bus to take out the driver and assistant who were trapped inside.

Fourteen of the passengers were hospitalised at Buon Ho Town's General Hospital. Four of them were later transferred to Dak Lak General Hospital and HCM City's Cho Ray Hospital due to serious injuries.

Local residents who heard the loud collision said the driver of the parked truck, which was carrying bricks, had stopped to fix a flat tyre. The other truck had stopped to give the driver a helping hand.

Border guards rescue trafficked women and children

Two women and two children were rescued from China by border guards in the Meo Vac District of the northern mountainous Ha Giang Province.

Vang Thi C, 28, and Lau Thi G, 26, had left their homes in Meo Vac District on April 10. They took their daughters, Giang Thi V, 2, and Tho Thi S, 6 with them and had not returned since then.

Officers at the Sam Pun Border Guard post were informed about the disappearance of these four people and finally managed to find them in China. The victims were taken back to their hometown later.

Crane's lifting cable breaks, killing one

A crane's lifting cable broke, killing a worker at the Bau Xeo Industrial Park in the southern Dong Nai Province, yesterday morning.

The victim, Phan Hoang Tam, 23, was an employee of the San Lim Furniture Viet Nam company. He was killed after being struck by a wood processing machine that fell down from his crane after its lifting cable broke accidentally.

Areas with industrial parks at risk of dengue

Provinces and cities with many industrial parks are at a higher risk of a dengue fever outbreak, the head of HCM City's Pasteur Institute has said.

At a workshop on preventive methods against dengue fever held earlier this week, Phan Trong Lan said the number of dengue fever cases in the last 10 years in HCM City and the southern provinces of Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Long An were higher than in other areas in the country.

The Preventive Health Department said the number of cases in these areas had increased by 35.2 per cent this year compared to the first three months of 2014, while the number of cases had decreased in the rest of the country.

Lan attributed the increase to health officials' poor supervision of the control vector for mosquitoes and an increase in use of containers to store water.

Population density has also risen in many of these areas, making it easier to transmit the disease.

Lan said most dengue fever patients in the four provinces and HCM City were over the age of 15, but in the other areas in the southern region, the cases involved mostly children.

Tran Dac Phu, head of the Preventive Health Department, warned that dengue fever this year could be more widespread because of weather changes.

He said many provinces and cities had not taken measures to prevent dengue fever, which has no cure. There is still no vaccine against dengue fever, either.

Mosquitoes that have become resistant to certain chemicals also pose challenges to the prevention of the disease.

Luong Ngoc Khue, head of Medical Examination and Treatment Department, said that many hospitals had not made sufficient investments in their infectious diseases wards.

These wards are often unhygienic or near a morgue, and fail to meet standards for treatment, he said.

Companies fined for selling drugs with unclear origin

The Drug Administration of Viet Nam under the Health Ministry has fined two foreign pharmaceutical companies more than VND300 million (US$14,000) after recently discovering violations in their drug sales.

The Austin Pharma Specilities Company was fined VND160 million for selling omeprazole and pantoprazole of unclear origin. The company was also forced to submit the US$30,625 earned from the sales of the drugs.

The administration has also decided to annul all the drugs registered by the company. Medicines produced by the company have also been banned from being imported into Viet Nam for the next two years.

CSPC Innovation Pharmaceutical Company, the other penalised company, was fined VND160 million for the same violation.

The administration also put aside CSPC's application for importing drugs for the next two years.

Omeprazole and pantoprazole are proton pump inhibitors that decrease the amount of acid produced in the stomach.

They can be used to treat erosive esophagitis (damage to the oesophagus from stomach acid), and other conditions involving excess stomach acid.

Programme raises children’s love for rhinos

A Rhino Protection Programme was launched in the central city of Da Nang on April 18 in a bid to raise students’ responsibility for protecting the endangered animal.

With the theme of “I Love Rhinos”, the festival drew the participation of nearly 500 primary students across the city.

Through an array of activities such as art performances and painting exhibitions, the children showed off their knowledge about rhinos as well as their love for these endangered animals.

The event was jointly held by the Vietnam Management Authority for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and Humane Society International.

The two organisations are joining hands with the municipal Department of Education and Training to conduct various activities to improve public awareness of reducing the demand for rhino horns.

Such activities, including provision of comic books about the Rhino, film screening and painting contests, target students in the locality.

Do Quang Tung, Director of the Vietnam CITES Management Authority, said rhinos are standing on the edge of extinction due to illegal hunting for their horns.

Therefore, how to spread the message of cutting the demand for rhino horns among the community is significant to protect the endangered animal, he added.

EU-funded workshop promotes Vietnam’s ethnic policies

A two-day consultation workshop on “Building and Implementing Ethnic Policies to Ensure the Rights of Ethnic Minorities – Sharing European and Vietnamese Experiences” opened in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh on April 16.

The main objective of the workshop was to provide a platform for consultations and exchange of views between participants regarding inputs and suggestions to the objectives of socio-economic development for ethnic and mountainous areas for 2016-2020.

It was also expected to improve the understanding and knowledge of human rights issues in Vietnam, with a focus on the rights of ethnic minorities.

Le Anh Tuan, deputy head of the Permanent Office of Vietnam National Committee of Human Rights presented an account of Vietnam’s recent human rights achievements, saying that the country has sufficient evidence featuring its responsibilities and obligations to international treaties to submit to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Juan Zaratiegui Biurrun, Politic Advisor of the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam emphasised that “European countries have a varied and rich number of ethnic communities. Geography, history, culture, and lately, migration, have defined different communities within the societies of Europe. This variety has undoubtedly enriched Europe’s culture”.

“In line with universal human rights standards, also subscribed by Vietnam, the EU and its member states are committed to respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of ethnic minorities”, he added.

The event was part of the EU – Vietnam Strategic Dialogue Facility for 2013-2016 funded by the EU which aims to support Vietnam’s development through the implementation of activities in areas covered by the EU – Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) signed in 2012.

It was co-hosted by the Committee For Ethnic Minorities Affairs and the Delegation of the EU to Vietnam.

Merits of volunteer soldiers in Laos, Cambodia reviewed

The role and historic significance of voluntary Vietnamese soldiers in Lower Laos and northeast Cambodia were featured in an international scientific workshop in the central province of Quang Ngai on April 18.

On August 19, 1948 in Nghia Hanh district, Quang Ngai province, a group of Vietnamese volunteer armed force departed for Lower Laos, marking a significant historic milestone and a close coordination between the Inter-region V Party Central Committee and Lower Laos and northeast Cambodia.

During the anti-French war, they stood side by side with their Lao and Cambodian fellows to wipe out thousands of enemy troops and liberate a vast rural areas and towns.

Years later in Lower Laos, they lent their support to breaking the “Special War” and “Intensified Special War” strategies hatched by the US troops.

From 1970 when the American imperialists deployed forces to expand the war to Cambodia, the voluntary Vietnamese soldiers actively helped the country develop armed forces and waged large-scale campaigns defeating 100,000 of the American troops, laying a solid groundwork for Phnom Penh liberation on April 17, 1975.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Quang Thich said the workshop will offer more materials as a basis to submit a proposal on upgrading a relic site that witnessed a farewell ceremony for Vietnamese soldiers heading to Lower Laos and northeast Cambodia.

Pham Van Duc, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS), said agencies concerned are seeking to upgrade the site into a national historic relic.

The workshop, co-hosted by the provincial People’s Committee and the VASS, collected a total of 52 reports relevant to its theme from scholars, scientists and historians.

Participants also talked about how to restore, preserve and uphold the scientific, historical and cultural values of the site.

Art performance programmes to honour the disabled

An art performance programme was held in Hanoi on April 18 to encourage the people with disabilities who do their best to overcome their difficulties in life.

The “Hearts are not disabled” programme, part of activities to mark Vietnam Day for People with Disabilities (April 18), also called for more joint efforts in helping the disabled improve their livelihoods and integrate into the community.

Addressing the event, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan hailed efforts by the disabled nationwide to gain achievements in economics, politics and society while thanking associations of the disabled and domestic and foreign donors for their practical actions for the Vietnamese people with disabilities over the past 35 years since the Day was launched

Joakim Parker, Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), highlighted that the US wishes to continue its cooperation with Vietnam to provide support for the disabled.

He said that the Agency has collaborated with social organisations to back programmes on medical services, education and jobs for the people with disabilities.

At the event, the organising board presented gifts to 20 outstanding disabled people and certificate of merits to individuals and organisations with contributions to providing vocational training for the disabled in recent years.

Earlier in Ho Chi Minh City on April 17, a donation worth 16 billion VND (1.2 million USD) was raised to efforts on caring the disabled and orphans through the 12th charity art programme “One Heart- One World”.

The annual event aims to honour donors and disabled people and orphans who overcame their difficulties in life nationwide as well as connecting individuals and organisations towards supporting the groups.

Cuba's Hiron victory marked in Ho Chi Minh City

A ceremony was held on April 18 in Ho Chi Minh City to mark the 54th anniversary of the Cuba’s Hiron victory (April 19, 1961).

The event was organised by the Ho Chi Minh City chapter of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (HCM City – VUFO) and the Ho Chi Minh City chapter of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association (HCM City – VCFA).

Bernabe Garcia Valido, Cuban Consul General in HCM City highlighted the significance of the historic victory of the Cuban people on the Hiron beach 54 years ago.

Huynh Minh Thien, Vice President of the HCM City – VUFO hailed the Vietnam-Cuba friendship, highlighting the valuable support the Cuban people has provided for Vietnam during the past struggle for national independence as well as in the current national construction.

The city will continue to promote exchanges and cooperation with Cuba, contributing to fostering the traditional solidarity between the two countries, Thien added.

Submarine power cable comes to HCM City’s island commune

A 22 kilovolt submarine power cable was inaugurated in Ho Chi Minh City on April 17, formally connecting Thach An island commune in Can Gio district to the national power grid.

As the city’s first project transmitting power to its only island commune, the cable has been under construction since December 18, 2014, costing over 200 billion VND (9.5 million USD).

Its second phase will conclude in the third quarter of this year, covering the construction of two power stations in Can Thach Township and Thach An commune.

The project will enable each local to consume 900-1,000 kilowatt hours per year instead of the current 250-300 kilowatt hours, said Deputy Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Minh Ha.

Local residents used to rely on diesel generators to light their homes and power their TVs, said an islander.

The inauguration ceremony was hosted by the Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation and the district’s People’s Committee.

US supports Vietnamese AO victims

Vice Director of the US organisation “Veterans for Peace (VFP)” Chuck Searcy and his delegation visited Vietnam to consolidate Vietnam – US cooperation in addressing the difficulties facing Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin victims.

During a reception for the delegation on April 17 in Hanoi, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) Nguyen The Luc hailed the VFP’s active support for Vietnam, especially during the Vietnamese AO victim lawsuit in the US.

For his part, Searcy valued the efforts made by the VAVA to call on the global community to share the burden of Vietnamese AO victims.

On the occasion, the VFP donated 2,000 USD to the VAVA.

From 1961-1971, US troops sprayed more than 80 million litres of herbicides—44 million litres of which were AO containing nearly 370 kilograms of dioxin—over southern Vietnam.

As a result, around 4.8 million Vietnamese were exposed to the toxic chemical. Many of the victims have died, while millions of their descendants are living with deformities and diseases as a direct result of the chemical’s effects.

Ca Mau: 30,000 ha of forest on high fire alert

Prolonged intense heat waves have led to droughts and high risks of fire in the U Minh Ha cajuput forest, said the Forest Management Department in the southernmost province of Ca Mau.

According to the department, 19,000 of nearly 38,500 hectares of cajuput forest are facing extremely high fire risk, while prolonged dry weather will diminish the supply of water available for fire fighters to extinguish blazes.

To cope with the situation, the provincial People’s Committee has requested the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development cooperate with authorised bodies and local governments to encourage local households to protect forests and prevent fire during the drought season.

Ca Mau has also implemented a number of precautionary programmes, including around-the-clock patrols, fire drills, and logistics planning.

The local U Minh Ha cajuput forest covers 75,000 hectares, including a valuable 8,000-hectare primeval forest within the Vo Doi national forest.

Bangladeshi fund shares climate change response experience

A delegation from the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, a Bangladesh-based environmental fund, conducted a working visit to the southern central coastal province of Ninh Thuan to share climate change response experience.

In the delegation’s meeting with the provincial People’s Committee, Managing Director of the Foundation Abdul Karim said climate change has had adverse impacts on social-economic development of countries bearing the brunt of its effects.

He introduced the foundation’s activities as well as measures Bangladesh has taken to minimise the impacts of climate change, such as developing rice varieties and tree species suitable for each individual region and building flood-resistant houses and irrigation systems.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Xuan Hoa said the foundation’s activities and models present ideas and solutions for the province and other vulnerable localities in responding to climate change.

Ninh Thuan has been implementing climate change response initiatives across its mountainous, midland and lowland areas in an attempt to retain water supply, Hoa said.

Construction of dams, efforts to prevent saltwater intrusion and connecting reservoirs to serve farming practices are all underway as well, Hoa added.

Son La helps train health practitioners for Lao provinces

Over the past decade, the Son La Medical College in the northwest mountainous province of Son La has trained around 100 students from Laos’ northern provinces.

The initiative helps to improve the capacity of healthcare sector personnel to serve their ethnic minority people in mountainous areas.

Sharing a 250-kilometre borderline with Laos, the province has carried out numerous cooperative programmes between the two countries.

Many Lao students from the Huaphan, Bokeo and Luang Phabang provinces have studied at Tay Bac University, Son La College, Son La Medical College and Son La Agriculture and Forestry College.

According to the provincial Department of Education and Training, over 600 Lao students are currently pursuing school and college courses in Son La.

The training programme also speeds up the implementation of the project “improving quality and cooperative efficiency between Vietnam and Laos in education and manpower development” signed by the two governments.-

Maritime healthcare project reaps fruitful outcomes

Government project 371, which aimed to develop healthcare systems at sea and on islands, proved effective in helping coastal residents and islanders access basic healthcare services, as heard at a conference in the central province of Phu Yen on April 16.

Implemented from 2013 to 2014 in 28 coastal localities nationwide, the project targeted stronger State management over maritime medicine, upgraded healthcare stations and expanded telemedicine centre networks.

The project was part of Government efforts to realise goals set in Vietnam’s maritime strategy.

According to reports on the implementation of the project presented at the event, nearly 3,000 people were provided with first aid care and over 1,300 others with surgical operations, while over 20,000 health insurance cards were presented to islanders during the two-year project.

As many as 57 patients were brought to the mainland for emergency care by 14 helicopters and 13 military boats during the period.

Medical diagnosis and treatment facilities on islands and in coastal localities were upgraded and equipped with modern technology while public awareness of health protection methods was raised. Speaking at the event, Deputy Health Minister Professor Dr. Pham Le Tuan asked the health sector to work closely with army medical forces in localities to improve the quality of healthcare for people in coastal areas.

Foreign researchers review Vietnam’s history

Some 15 reports by foreign researchers from the US, France, Australia, China and Japan, among others will provide insight on 40 years of Vietnam’s reunification, development and integration at an event from April 25-26.

They are among over 300 reports to be presented at the 2-day international workshop at Thu Dau Mot University in southern Binh Duong province.

The event is co-organised by the Ho Chi Minh University of Social Sciences and Humanities (HCM USSH), Hanoi-based University of Social Sciences and Humanities at Vietnam National University (VNU), Hue University of Sciences and Thu Dau Mot University.

Its reports will focus on Vietnam’s previous struggle for national independence, Doi Moi (renewal) and international integration process.

Additionally, a number of documents on the wars against France and the US, the Southwest border war and East Sea incidents will be released at the event.

The War Remnants Museum will also exhibit more than 100 historical objects, documents and photos on the wars and the country’s 40 years of socio-economic development.

HCM USSH Vice Principal Le Huu Phuoc said the university’s lecturers and students hope for other international science forums like the upcoming workshop. Such events allow them to look at valuable historical documents and learn advanced search techniques from foreign scholars.

Vietnam show good performance in realising MDGs

Vietnam has gained many important achievements in realising Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially in poverty reduction, gender equality and education, according to a report released at a conference in Hanoi on April 17.

The report, announced by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, said Vietnam fulfilled the goal of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger in 2002. The country cut the poverty rate to 6 percent in 2014 from 9.6 percent in 2012 and 58.1 percent in 1993, which is a result of high economic growth and concerted efforts of the entire political system, which made poverty reduction the top priority in the national agenda throughout the past two decades.

The country succeeded in universalising primary education in 2010, and is working to give all children access to secondary and high schools soon, said the report, adding that Vietnam has basically reached the goal of gender equality, as seen in eliminating the gap in accessing primary education and the high proportion of women in the active workforce and the National Assembly.

Addressing the event, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Selberg, who is on a three-day Vietnam visit, said Vietnam is doing well in realising the MDGs, evidenced by its completion of goals in poverty reduction and education.

However, the country can still do better in providing education for women and caring for mothers and children, especially those in mountainous and remote areas, she said.

The country is also showing good performance in issues related to sustainable development, she commented, adding that Vietnam has made a number of contributions to the United Nations’ programmes on sustainable economic growth with Norway ’s support.

She said the Vietnamese Government is really paying attention to this issue, and she hopes that Vietnam will achieve all sustainable development goals in 2030.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam stated that with its policy of people-centred development, the Vietnamese Government always attaches importance to the human factor, thus investing heavily in education, health care, information and other social services for all, especially women, children and ethnic minority groups.

Together with its great efforts and support from the international community, Vietnam has completed many MDGs ahead of schedule, he said, adding that ministries and sectors are now ready for the next steps.

Vietnam, US look forward to the future

Vice Director of the US organisation “Veterans for Peace (VFP)” Chuck Searcy said he and his delegation are in Hanoi to work for a better tomorrow during a roundtable talk recorded in the capital Hanoi on April 16.

At the event, Chairman of the Vietnam-US Association Nguyen Tam Chien informed the participants that 2015 marks 20 years of normalised diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Chien said they have reviewed their past, but the important thing is to keep looking toward and building a bright future.

Associate Professor Desiree Helegers from Washington State University, who is visiting Vietnam for the first time, shared that in her role as a teacher she will educate young Americans about the after-effects of the Vietnam War.

She is currently writing a book about the effects of dioxin on human health.

The VFP delegation is in Vietnam through May 2 and is scheduled to meet with the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin and the Veterans’ Association of Vietnam, as well as visit Agent Orange and mine victims and tour a dioxin clean-up site at the Da Nang Airport, among others.

Binh Thuan marks 40 years of liberation

Central Binh Thuan province celebrated the 40 th anniversary of its historic liberation day (April 19, 1975-2015) with a solemn meeting on April 18 evening.

At the meeting, Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission To Huy Rua praised the strong rise of Binh Thuan from an underdeveloped locality over the past 40 years, with remarkable achievements in improving irrigation for agriculture and developing tourism.

He urged the province to continue optimising the use of available resources, including sustainable energy sources and eco-tourism potentials, to become a national energy and tourism hub.

According to the provincial Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Manh Hung, Binh Thuan has recorded an annual growth of 11.6 percent. In 2014, its per capita income reached 1,656 USD, a 12.7-fold increase from 1991, and domestic budget revenue totalled 4,000 billion VND (184.3 million USD) compared to 140 billion VND in 1993.-

HCM City to raise 1.6 mln USD for sea, island activities

The Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Ho Chi Minh City chapter strives to raise 35 billion VND (1.6 million USD) from the public to fund the “Vi bien dao que huong- Vi tuyen dau To Quoc” (for the homeland’s sea and islands – for the nation’s front) in 2015.

The fund will be used to organise communication activities, exchange programmes and aid soldiers and officials working in the Truong Sa archipelago and the DK 1 rig.

In 2014, over 86 billion VND (4.1 million USD) was raised through the fund.

HCM city presented five lifeboats to Truong Sa soldiers built a school in Song Tu Tay Island commune and granted vocational training scholarships for Truong Sa soldiers worth over 40 billion VND (1.9 million USD) in 2014.

Through its programmes, the city aims to increase the public awareness, particularly among the younger generations, of safeguarding the country’s seas and islands.-

Ha Tinh takes steps to stop foot-and-mouth disease

The Huong Khe District's People's Committee in the central Ha Tinh Province has ordered localities to conduct aggressive checks to prevent the spread of the foot-and-mouth disease among its livestock, which was reported on Monday.

Leaders in the central province of Ha Tinh's Huong Khe District, where the disease had broken out were asked to take measures, such as isolating and sterilising the affected areas and those at high risk.

Local authorities were also asked to ban the trading, slaughter and transport of livestock going in and out of the affected locality.

The district also plans to raise local residents' awareness about the situation and seek their help in controlling the disease.

According to Nguyen Minh Long, the deputy director of the district's Centre for Science and Technology Application, Plant and Livestock Protection, the disease was reported among the Vo Hong Quan's livestock, with nine cows having been contaminated and had spread to other households nearby.

As of today, 19 cows in five households in Huong Khe District's Ha Linh Commune had reported the incidence of the disease.

The fact that the sick livestock had not been vaccinated was also cited as a reason for the reoccurrence of the disease, Long said.

Earlier, cases of the foot-and-mouth disease had appeared among livestock in the Ha Linh Commune, affecting 40 cows and buffaloes at the Phan Dinh Phung farm.

Dong Nai opens club for coffee growers

A club for coffee growers to share their cultivation knowledge and experiences made its debut on Wednesday in the southern province of Dong Nai.

It has attracted over 100 coffee farmers from the Central Highlands provinces of Dac Lac, Dac Nong, Lam Dong and Gia Lai, who will regularly discuss vital issues including agronomic seasonal concerns, weather forecast, pests, diseases, weed management as well as market prices and export conditions.

Bayer CropScience Viet Nam will provide training and organise seminars featuring agronomists and experts on sustainable coffee production, innovative pesticide solutions to improve yield, quality and profits.

Pham Xuan Quang, a club's manager, said, "This is a useful forum for better coffee yields."

Torsten Velden, the company's country division told Viet Nam News: "Coffee is second only to rice in value of agricultural products exported from Viet Nam. Therefore we would like to support this further. With the launch of the club, we aim to create a forum where key coffee growers in Viet Nam can reflect and develop their professional aspirations in the field, and eventually help increase yield, quality, and profit in a sustainable manner."

The opening of the club follows a programme called Bayer Much More Coffee, which was started in 2013 to improve agronomy methods and make efficient use of crop protection inputs.

The programme was developed with the Western Highlands Agriculture and Science Institute and has been tested and proven with the support of coffee farmers.

Coffee farmers taking part in the programme had seen their profits increase by at least 25 per cent compared to normal practices, the company said.

Project helping reduce overcrowding at central hospitals

Examination and treatment services have improved remarkably at 48 hospitals after two years of implementing a satellite hospital project that aims to reduce overcrowding at central hospitals in the country.

Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said the project was started in 2013 and has established a network that includes 14 core hospitals, which have taken the responsibility of transferring medical techniques to 48 satellite hospitals in five fields that experience serious patient overcrowding, including cardiovascular, surgery, cancer, obstetrics and paediatrics.

Satellite hospitals have also improved their examination and treatment abilities through training; technique transference and by upgrading their infrastructure and medical facilities and through tele-medicine. It also aims to minimise the number of patients being sent to central hospitals for treatment and will ease overcrowding at central hospitals.

"Patients, especially the poor, have access to high-tech services at provincial hospitals, such as the general hospitals of Phu Tho, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Lam Dong and Quang Nam provinces," said Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien today at a conference to review the results of the satellite hospital project for the 2013 to 2020 period.

"Some satellite hospitals have mastered high-techniques transferred by core hospitals. The rates of patients being sent to central hospitals have also declined sharply in 37.5 per cent of the satellite hospitals, thanks to medical technique transference," stressed Tien.

The ministry's data showed that the project had promulgated instructions on diagnosis, treatment for satellite hospitals and successfully transferred 224 medical techniques to 1,745 doctors and medical technicians.

Last year, the Ninh Thuan General Hospital had sent only 12 patients with skull and brain injuries to higher level hospitals for treatment, compared with 104 in 2013. The Phu Tho general hospital provided cancer surgery and treatment for 5,535 patients in 2014, in comparison with 2,876 cases in the previous year, the ministry's Medical Services Administration Head Luong Ngoc Khue said.

"The project has contributed to reducing overcrowding at central hospitals. At the moment, patients do not have to share a bed at some central hospitals in Ha Noi, such as Viet Duc or National Paediatrics," said Khue.

At the event, participants also said that some satellite hospitals lacked human resources and medical facilities that meet the requirements for training and technique transference.

They also proposed to put the Ha Noi Heart Hospital into a core hospital list and add the general hospitals of Lao Cai, Quang Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Dien Bien, Cao Bang and Vinh Phuc to a list of satellite hospitals.

VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/Dantri